TAXPAYERS in South Cheshire could have to fork out an extra £103m in five years if the Government’s carve-up of the county goes ahead, county leaders have warned.

They say the bid for two ‘super councils’ for the East and West of Cheshire, which is being challenged by Crewe and Nantwich and Congleton Borough councils but supported by four other districts, will not pass the Government’s own ‘affordability test’.

The also claim that a report written by the pro-split camp’s own financial advisers admits a lot of wishful thinking went into the bid, which was originally proposed by Chester City Council but later withdrawn.

Cheshire County Council leader Paul Findlow said: ‘There is hard evidence that the financial case for splitting Cheshire is seriously flawed and could have grave consequences for our Council Tax-payers and services.

‘After considering a damning report from Deloitte, its own independent financial consultants, Chester City Council Executive agreed that its financial response was ‘over optimistic,’ and could have an unknown impact for the new authority.’

He said that the county council’s scrutiny of the district’s submission suggests that, far from saving £30m a year, it could actually cost £11m annually.

He added that when combined with transitional costs of around £33m and other factors, it adds up to an estimated £103m over five years.

County council Labour spokesman, Crewe councillor Peter Nurse said: ‘This would be an appalling financial legacy to inflict on the people of Cheshire – a legacy that can only be paid for with increased Council Tax, reduced services – or both.

‘The Government must look at these figures very closely indeed.’

Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council leader Cllr Brian Silvester said he was not surprised that the figures did not stand up.

He added: ‘I’ve said all along that it is going to cost the taxpayer a lot of money, and £100m over and above what we are paying now is something like paying £50 each extra over the next five years.

‘The main reason they put this bid forward was that it would save money, but nobody with an ounce of common sense would believe that.

‘These are all reasons why we should continue to resist the change.’

What’s your verdict? We welcome your views.

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